Gowdy is a former prosecutor who has demonstrated beyond any doubt in his work on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that he means business. Don't be deceived by the Southern manners and the "Yes Ma'ams" and "No sirs."

So Democrats will spare no effort to make Gowdy's life miserable and the work of the panel impossible to complete.

As for Pelosi, she initially hinted that House Democrats would boycott the panel, then demanded that Boehner appoint equal numbers of Democrats and Republicans as members.

Deny, Delay, Disrupt, Discredit

Neither the boycott threat nor the equal numbers demand were credible, so what to expect now that there will be seven GOP members of the select committee and five Democrats?

Between now and Election Day, the Obama White House will claim to be cooperating with the Gowdy panel even as it delays in every way possible providing either documents or witnesses.

Within the panel itself, there will be endless procedural controversies and debates over how the investigation should proceed, who should be subjected to depositions, and what witnesses to call for testimony.

Leaks about Gowdy's alleged partisanship and hard-edged tactics will pour out of the minority side and be dutifully reported by the mainstream media.

Post-election

Once the November election is over, there will be pressure on Republicans to wrap up the panel before the new Congress convenes. Whether that happens will depend primarily on the election results.

But in any case, Democrats will seek to discredit the panel's work after the election and will demand that it be closed so the new Congress can "move on" to more important issues.

In the meantime, Gowdy will be profiled throughout the mainstream media as the panel is assembled. It will not be a complimentary framing of the South Carolinian.